Equine influenza

Conclusions and Recommendations

Influenza activity in 2016

During this period, individual animal cases and outbreaks of equine influenza were reported by Ireland, Sweden, the UK and the USA.

Sources of viruses characterised during 2016

Equine influenza A (H3N8) viruses were isolated and/or characterised from outbreaks in Ireland, the UK and the USA.

Field data

There was increased influenza activity in the USA in 2015 with outbreaks detected on 46 premises in 23 states. No vaccination data were available.

In Europe there were less equine influenza virus infections than in recent years. The clinically affected horses on the seven affected premises in the UK were unvaccinated. A single confirmed case in Sweden was of unknown vaccination history. In Ireland equine influenza cases were confirmed in both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses but only approximately 10% of the horses on the two affected premises had up to date vaccination records.

In the USA outbreaks were detected throughout the year with over 30 confirmed cases from 16 states. No vaccination data were available.

In Asia and South America no equine influenza outbreaks were reported.

Characterisation of viruses isolated in 2016

Viruses isolated/identified from outbreaks in Ireland, the UK and the USA were characterised genetically by sequencing of the haemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA) genes.

Viruses from the UK and the USA were antigenically characterised by the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay using post-infection ferret antisera and chicken red blood cells.

Genetic characterisation

All HA sequences obtained from viruses were of the American lineage (Florida sublineage). The viruses detected in the USA were characterised as clade 1 viruses and were very similar to those identified in 2015. Viruses detected in Ireland and the UK were characterised as clade 2 viruses. They were similar to viruses from those countries in 2015 in that compared to the Florida clade 2 reference strain, they had the substitution A144V. This is in contrast to viruses identified in mainland Europe in 2015 which had the substitution I179V.

The NA gene sequences of the viruses from clade 1 and clade 2 were also similar to those of viruses identified in 2015.

Antigenic characteristics

HI data available for viruses isolated in 2016, and antigenic cartography analyses thereof, show that the viruses of the two clades of the Florida sublineage continue to remain antigenically closely related to the recommended vaccine viruses of that lineage.

Conclusions

All viruses isolated and characterised in 2016 were from clades 1 and 2 of the Florida sublineage and were similar to those identified in 2015.

Level of surveillance and updating of vaccines

The panel continues to emphasize the importance of increased surveillance and investigation of vaccination breakdown in different countries. Rapid submission of viruses to reference laboratories is essential if antigenic and genetic drift is to be monitored effectively on a global basis.

Although some vaccines have been updated to include a virus from clade 2, in accordance with the recommendations of 2010 to 2016, many current vaccines contain outdated strains. The updating of vaccines with epidemiologically relevant viruses is necessary for optimum protection.

Recommendations

These are unchanged from those made each year since 2010.

It is not necessary to include an H7N7 virus or an H3N8 virus of the Eurasian lineage in vaccines as these viruses have not been detected in the course of the most recent surveillance and are therefore presumed not to be circulating.

Vaccines should contain both clade 1 and clade 2 viruses of the Florida sublineage.

Clade 1 continues to be represented by A/eq/South Africa/04/2003-like or A/eq/Ohio/2003-like viruses but more recent clade 1 viruses are available from the OIE reference laboratories.

Clade 2 continues to be represented by A/eq/Richmond/1/2007-like viruses but more recent clade 2 viruses are available from the OIE reference laboratories.

Manufacturers producing vaccines for a strictly national market are encouraged to liaise with reference laboratories. The selected viruses should induce responses which are immunogenically relevant to the equine influenza viruses circulating nationally. Sequence determination of both HA and NAs should be completed before use.

Reference reagents

Freeze-dried post-infection equine antisera to A/eq/Newmarket/1/93 (American lineage H3N8) and A/eq/South Africa/4/2003 (Florida clade 1, sublineage of the American lineage) are available from the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM). These sera have been assigned Single Radial Haemolysis values through an international collaborative study and can be used as primary reference sera for the assay. A joint OIE and EDQM collaborative study is in progress, a new antiserum against the Florida clade 2 reference strain A/eq/Richmond/1/2007 has been produced and is being standardised internationally.

Recent virus strains, including suitable vaccine candidates for clades 1 and 2, are available from the OIE reference laboratories. In the event that an OIE reference laboratory cannot supply suitable vaccine candidates for both clades, they will assist the vaccine company to source the viruses from an alternative OIE reference laboratory.

Small quantities of ferret antisera for antigenic characterisation are available from the OIE reference laboratories in the UK and Ireland.